Ruturaj Gaikwad has made a return to India’s ODI squad almost two years after his last international appearance and could feature in the playing XI for the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday. During Team India’s practice session on Friday, Gaikwad had an intensive net session and was reportedly seen having a detailed one-on-one discussion with head coach Gautam Gambhir.
With captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer sidelined due to injury, two spots are open in the playing XI, presenting Gaikwad with a potential opportunity to make his mark. He recently scored 210 runs in three ODIs for India A against South Africa A, earning the ‘Player of the Series’ award and a subsequent call-up to the senior team.
Initially, Gaikwad’s selection appeared to be as a backup opener alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma. However, recent reports suggest he could be considered for the No. 4 spot, replacing Shreyas Iyer. He will face competition for the role from Tilak Varma and wicketkeepers Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel.
The 28-year-old, who captains Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL, has been on the fringes of India’s squad across formats for several years, often featuring in India A matches. He has played six ODIs so far, scoring 115 runs at an average of under 20, with a highest score of 71, his only half-century in the format.
India will aim to bounce back from a 0–2 Test series loss when they take on South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi on November 30.
